WBE Certification

Application WBE

Applying for Certification

To become WBE certified, businesses follow these 5 steps:

  1. ​​Register your b​usiness on wisdp.wi.gov
  2. Log into the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Portal and complete the WBE Certification Application
  3. Upload required documents from the WBE Che​c​klist
  4. Verify and Submit the WBE C​ertification Application
  5. Mail $150 via check or money order payable to "Department of Administration". 
Please mail your check to:

WI Supplier Diversity Program

Department of Administration

PO B​ox 7970

Madison, WI  53707-7970​

We do not have ePayment a​vailable at this time. 

After you click submit, Supplier Diversity Program staff will review your application within 30 days. If there are questions or additional documents needed, st​aff will email your Primary Contact person. 


​JOINT VENTURES

If your business is a Joint Venture, please see the JV Guidelines document below: 

JV Guidelines


​TRUSTS

If any portion of your 51% majority ownership is in trust, please complete the Trust Information Form below:

SDP Trust Info Form


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​WBE Checklist

Printable version:WB​E Checklist.pdf

There is a $150 fee for WBE certifications.​​
​Mail to:​
Dept of Administration
P.O. Box 7970
Madison, WI 53707-7970
Electronic payment is unavailable.​

Must provide at least one of the following, for each woman owner:
  • ​​Birth certificate
  • ​Passport
  • State Issued ID or Dr​iver's license​​

Minimum documentation required:
  • ​3 years of Federal Business Tax Forms: Upload signiture page or Form 8879 AND the tax schedules/forms listed below:
    • ​Sole proprietorship: 1040/1040A: Schedule C and Schedule E ​(if available)
    • Corporation: 1120: Schedule G and Form 1125E (if available)
    • S Corporation: 1120S: Schedule K-1, Schedule G-1, and Form 1125E (if available)
    • Partnership: 1065: Schedul K-1, Schedule B-1, and Form 1125 (if available)
  • ​Buy-out or purchase agreement(s), if applicable
  • Corporate by-laws, if applicable
  • Partnership agreement, if applicable
  • Stock certificates or stock affirmation forms, if applicable
  • Operating agreements
Additional documentation may be requested:
  • ​​Articles of incorporation/organization, if applicable (corporations, LLCs)
  • Salary and profit-sharing records
  • Corporate-borrowing resolution (corporations)
  • Canceled check(s) used to purchase ownership (sole proprietorships)
  • Current business financial statements (profit & loss or balance sheet)
  • Business licenses
  • Minutes of corporate meetings
  • Joing venture agreement (must be signed by all of the joint venturers and must include the information provided in Wis. Admin. Code § Adm 83.25(e)1.-2.)

All documents required:
  • ​​Documentation ​​​of control of bank accounts with owner and business name (ex: signature card, business credit/debit card, bank statement)
  • ​All business agreements
  • Operating agreements
  • Signed bids and contracts
  • Signed loans
  • Signed hiring decisions
  • Resumes

  • ​​Signed invoices, contracts, and purchase orders sent to your customers (at least three), required
  • Managing authority (organizational chart, list of staff under owner's direct supervision or position description, if available)
  • Business equipment inventory/list
  • Leases
  • Employee contracts
  • Loans
  • Payroll records​

Businesses whose headquarters is not in the State of Wisconsin.
  • ​​Documentation of at least one customer located in Wisconsin - Wis. Stat. § 16.285(1)(a)(2)
  • Home State Certification (letter of certification or most recent certificate)
  • Business registration in Wisconsin - see dfi.wi.gov

  • ​Upload your completed document checklist into your business account on wisdp.wi.gov (optional)
  • Please email SupplierDiversity@wi.gov to discuss missing documents
  • Documentation of active management by woman owner & useful business function - Wis. Admin. Code §§ Adm 83.33 & 83.37

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Training Videos

If you are lost at any point, please watch our training videos below or contact our team at SupplierDiversity@wi.gov.

Application Process Step 1: Registering A Business Application Process Step 2: Completing the Application

Application Process Step 3: Uploading Documents Application Process Step 4: Submitting the Application

If you are an out of state business​, watch our video about extra requirements:

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After Certification:

SDP staff will ​review your application within 30 days. When approved, SDP staff will email an Approval Letter and WBE Certificate to your business' Primary Contact. 

Once certified,

Check out our conte​nt on newly certified business resources in the "Newly Certified" tab of our website!

​Logo Usage

You are also free to use our Logo after your business is certified! See the ​WBE Style Guide to find State of Wisconsin guidelines on how to use these trademarked images. 

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Links for Logo: 
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​Keeping Your Certification Active:
Keeping Your Certification Active. Year 1: Annual Update Year 2: Annual Update Year 3: Recertification

To keep your certification active, you'll need to complete an Annual Update every year and Recertify after three years. Visit the Annual Updat​e and Recertification tabs above to see more information about what each of these mean!